April has come around again, and with it comes a much-needed surcease of the cruel winter that plagued us for so long. And Record Store Day too, for that matter. This year, the 19th is the third Saturday of the month, meaning that it’s also the day to head out to your favorite local record store and kiss your paycheck goodbye.
As is tradition, just as some extra incentive for you to get off your ass, a long list of artists have put together some special releases. Those that know what RSD is undoubtedly have their shopping lists put together, but for those that are new to the ritual, here is a list of some of our favorite picks for Record Store Day 2014:
The Animals, The Animals EP; ABKCO
2014 marks the 50th anniversary of The Animals’ self-titled second British EP. It features “Boom Boom,” “Around And Around,” “Dimples,” and “I’ve Been Around,” the first of which was a major hit for the band. This will be the first United States release for the EP, printed on a 45 rpm 10”.
David Bowie, “1984” picture disc; Rhino
“1984” was originally released on Bowie’s 1974 album, Diamond Dogs; the song and much of the album was inspired by George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four. The July 1974 single featured “Queen Bitch” from 1971’s Hunky Dory on the back. Printed on a 7” picture disc featuring 40th anniversary artwork, this remastering of the song comes backed with a live version of “1984” recorded on The Dick Cavett Show in Dec. ’74. The live version only saw limited release, and until now has never been on vinyl.
Cage The Elephant, “Take It Or Leave It” b/w “Jesse James”; RCA
After releasing their second full-length, Thank You, Happy Birthday, in 2011, Cage The Elephant went back to the drawing board when planning their next move. Tired of being compared so heavily to their influences, they shut themselves out completely from other music through the writing and recording process, hoping to come out with the most Cage The Elephant experience possible. Oct. 2013 saw the release of Melophobia, the rich result of the band’s isolation. “Take It Or Leave It” is a track on the album, and for Record Store Day is coming backed with “Jesse James,” a previously unreleased song.
CHVRCHES, Recover EP; Glassnote
Scottish electronic band CHVRCHES made waves in 2013 with the release of three EPs followed by their first full-length, The Bones Of What You Believe. Recover EP was the first of the three, released in March as an mp3 download. Featuring “Recover,” “ZVVL,” “Now Is Not The Time,” and two remixes of “Recover,” the RSD edition 12” is printed on clear orange vinyl and limited to 2,500 copies. The sleeve is hand numbered and stamped, bootleg style.
Creedence Clearwater Revival, The 1969 Singles; Concord
1969 was a big year for CCR in terms of singles, as all of those released that year became some of their biggest songs which still have holding power today. This collection features “Proud Mary,” “Born On The Bayou,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Lodi,” “Green River,” “Commotion,” “Down On The Corner,” and “Fortunate Son.” The singles appear four to a side on a white, 120-gram 10”.
The Doors, Weird Scenes Inside The Goldmine, Rhino
Originally released in 1972, Weird Scenes Inside The Goldmine is The Doors’ second compilation. Their first release after the death of Jim Morrison, the album features two otherwise non-album B-sides, “(You Need Meat) Don’t Go No Further” and “Who Scared You,” from “Love Her Madly” and “Wishful, Sinful,” respectively. Printed on amber vinyl, the double album features some important pieces of a complete Doors collection.
Fleetwood Mac, “Dragonfly” b/w “The Purple Dancer”; Rhino
“Dragonfly” was recorded in 1970 and came at a pivotal time for Fleetwood Mac, as it was their first single following the departure of frontman Peter Green and the introduction of Christine McVie as a full member. Until now it was never released as a 7”. “The Purple Dancer” has never before been commercially released in the United States, and features vocals by ex-members Danny Kirwan and Jeremy Spencer.
Genesis, From Genesis To Revelation, Varese Sarabande
Johnathan King discovered the members of Genesis while they were still in high school. During the recording of their debut album, From Genesis To Revelation, he used his influence as producer to heavily alter their writing process. For that reason, this album is markedly different from all other work by the band, and for that reason has been disowned by them. Until now, the album has not made a vinyl appearance since its 1969 release. King still owns all rights to the album, so while it is really only a Genesis album by name and list of performers, it is still a remarkable piece of band history.
Green Day, Demolicious; Reprise
Demolicious is a collection of 18 unreleased demos recorded during the ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré! sessions. It also features the unreleased song “State Of Shock” and an acoustic version of “Stay The Night” from ¡Uno! The compilation will be released on red or clear vinyl (not sure if you get to choose), CD, or cassette. Leave it to Green Day to make sure you’re covered no matter what decade you’re stuck in.
Joan Jett And The Blackhearts, Glorious Results Of A Misspent Youth; Blackheart
Glorious Results Of A Misspent Youth is the fourth album by Joan Jett, and the third to feature her backing band The Blackhearts. It was released in 1984, and re-released in 1998 with seven bonus tracks. This 12” features the original 1984 tracklisting.
Mastodon, Live At Brixton; Reprise
On Feb. 11, 2012, Mastodon gave their first performance at London’s O2 arena, and it was the final stop of their world tour in support of 2011’s The Hunter. The sold-out concert was recorded but never saw physical release, but now it’s being pressed onto a pair of 180 grams and packaged with a DVD copy of the concert.
Nirvana, “Pennyroyal Tea” b/w “I Hate Myself And Want To Die”; Geffen
“Pennyroyal Tea” was intended to be released in April 1994 as the third single from In Utero, but was recalled and destroyed following the death of Kurt Cobain, with only limited numbers of the German and UK versions escaping into the world. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Cobain’s death, and the single will be released as a 7”, featuring the original single Scott Litt mixed single version of “Pennyroyal Tea” and its B-side, “I Hate Myself And Want To Die,” a song that was probably the cause of the original recall.
Of Montreal, Satanic Panic In The Attic; Polyvinyl
Satanic Panic In The Attic was a breakthrough for Of Montreal, featuring a wider range of influences than their previous releases, making use of Afrobeat as well as New Wave sounds. This remastered 10th anniversary edition will come on two 180-gram 12” records, the first yellow and the second light blue, with a digital download code.
Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes, Live At The Greek; TVT
For two nights in Oct. 1999, Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes performed at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. They played selections from the catalogues of The Black Crowes and Led Zeppelin as well as a number of blues and rock standards. Contractual limitations meant that none of The Black Crowes songs could be released, but this collection, released online in Feb. 2000 and physically in July of the same year, features all of the other songs performed those two nights. Originally released as a double album, this RSD edition is printed on three 12” LPs, in red, clear, and blue.
The Velvet Underground, Loaded; Rhino
The late Lou Reed left The Velvet Underground shortly before the release of 1970’s Loaded, the band’s fourth full-length. The album was meant to be a hitmaker that would receive heavy radio airplay; “Sweet Jane” and “Rock & Roll,” two of the band’s biggest songs, are two products of the pop hit recording efforts. The 12” is splattered pink, black, and white to match the cover artwork.
A full list of special releases as well as a list of participating record stores can be found at recordstoreday.com.
